It's Always Something
Friday, November 12, 2010
Dog Limping and Battery Acid
Over the last few weeks our dog has been limping (keeping weight off her left front foot). The odd thing is it has happened off and on. She'll limp for half a day and then she'll be fine for a few days. Originally, the vet thought she had been stung by something. It doesn't seem like that can be the problem, so she's at the vet now again.
My motorcycle had been difficult to start after sitting for a couple of weeks so I bought a battery charger about 6 months ago. While charging the battery with it the acid inside would bubble. Queries on the internet revealed very little explanation although some said it was OK and some said it was bad. Also, the charger would never indicate the battery was charged even after charging it for over a day. The battery did work after a charge again for a few months, but it would eventually die again. I decided to get a new battery. I went to Advance Auto Parts and bought a battery for a little over $50. The funny thing was the battery came with two small containers with sulphuric acid. I had to put the acid in the battery myself! Getting the acid in the six small holes was a messy job and it was difficult to tell how much had been put in since it was clear like water. However, I did get it done. The instructions said I should charge the battery with the holes open which I did. The acid was bubbling when it was charging. The charger indicated a full charge after about 6 hours. I plugged the holes and we'll see if it works.
My motorcycle had been difficult to start after sitting for a couple of weeks so I bought a battery charger about 6 months ago. While charging the battery with it the acid inside would bubble. Queries on the internet revealed very little explanation although some said it was OK and some said it was bad. Also, the charger would never indicate the battery was charged even after charging it for over a day. The battery did work after a charge again for a few months, but it would eventually die again. I decided to get a new battery. I went to Advance Auto Parts and bought a battery for a little over $50. The funny thing was the battery came with two small containers with sulphuric acid. I had to put the acid in the battery myself! Getting the acid in the six small holes was a messy job and it was difficult to tell how much had been put in since it was clear like water. However, I did get it done. The instructions said I should charge the battery with the holes open which I did. The acid was bubbling when it was charging. The charger indicated a full charge after about 6 hours. I plugged the holes and we'll see if it works.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
The Rain Chronicles
Over the past 2 months, prior to November 2nd, it has rained twice. This includes the notoriously rainy month of September. This has wreaked havoc on the lawn with huge brown patches of junky grass, not the beloved in these parts, St. Augustine.
Well, we couldn't take it anymore and had the sprinkler repair man come out on October 29th to fix the delapidated system. Our initial estimate was about $400. It turned out the line was cut at some point so they had to rewire the system which raised the estimate about $225. They also couldn't get to it until November 2nd. Well it actually rained while they were fixing it and it has rained ever since.
It rained so much (a torrential downpour about 4 a.m.) the roof started leaking in the same valley we had repaired in the spring.
Oh, the joy of homeownership!
***
Well, we couldn't take it anymore and had the sprinkler repair man come out on October 29th to fix the delapidated system. Our initial estimate was about $400. It turned out the line was cut at some point so they had to rewire the system which raised the estimate about $225. They also couldn't get to it until November 2nd. Well it actually rained while they were fixing it and it has rained ever since.
It rained so much (a torrential downpour about 4 a.m.) the roof started leaking in the same valley we had repaired in the spring.
Oh, the joy of homeownership!
***
